Updates: Thiem, Tsitsipas In First Set
Updates: Thiem, Tsitsipas In First Set
First season finale featuring two single-handed backhands since 2006
Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas are contesting the first set of the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday evening.
Tsitsipas came close to the first breakthrough, but Thiem came up with a powerful backhand at 1-2, 30/40. As rallies began to get drawn out, Thiem began to make inroads, but Tsitsipas – who saved 11 of 12 break points in his semi-final win over Roger Federer on Saturday – held firm in the seventh game, saving two break points with gutsy net play for a 4-3 advantage.
The 21-year-old Tsitsipas is the youngest tournament finalist since Juan Martin del Potro (21) in 2009 (l. to Davydenko) and the youngest player to make his debut and reach the final since Jim Courier (21) in 1991 (l. to Sampras). Thiem is guaranteed to finish a year-end best No. 4 in the ATP Rankings.
Infosys ATP Scores & Stats Comparison (Bold=Tournament Leader)
| Stat | Stefanos Tsitsipas | Dominic Thiem |
| Aces | 30 | 18 |
| First-Serve Percentage | 64% | 61% |
| First-Serve Points Won | 77% | 70% |
| Second-Serve Points Won | 50% | 57% |
| Service Games Won | 94% (44/47) | 88% (44/50) |
| Break Points Saved | 86% (19/22) | 68% (13/19) |
| First-Serve Return Points Won | 24% | 27% |
| Second-Serve Return Points Won | 52% | 48% |
| Return Games Won | 16% (7/45) | 20% (10/49) |
| Break Points Converted | 47% (7/15) | 67% (10/15 |